To ask how much time this morning routine should take?

[coffeeforone]

Working backwards:

I need to catch a train to work at 8.15
I can drop 1year old and 3year old at nursery from 8am (so need to be outside at 7.55 so I can drop them and catch my train)

We walk to nursery which takes 10-15 mins, so we need to leave home at 7.40am

To get us all out of the 7.40 I find I need to get us before 6am, I have no idea where the time goes between 6 and 7.40 but there is always a mad rush at 7.30 with coats, shoes, bags, keys etc.

I think 90 mins should be plenty of time so don't get why I feel so rushed! Anything I can do to make those last few mins easier?

I agree with PP what do the kids eat for breakfast and is absolutely everything ready for the morning (e.g. clothes laid out, bags packed). Things go much quicker I find if I have a set routine and no what needs to be done by what time. So I'd be up and showered before the kids then kids up,nappies changed (or older kid put on the loo). Breakfast eaten. Kids in their clothes. Pick up bags which are already by the front door put on coats, shoes etc already by the front door. Off you go.

You need to get yourself ready at 6, shower, dressed, hair etc, done by 6:30. 15mins to sort baby, before other one wakes up. Done by 7am.

I would just leave baby, yes in poopy nappy if needed if you have already started shower. He will be fine another 5 mins while you just finish. Then you can concentrate on him properly after dressed.

Otherwise make him milk at 6am, change his nappy and dress. Then straight in shower yourself at 6.15. That way you still have 30 mins before 3 year old is up

Get up at at 6.30am, get yourself ready between 6.30am-7am.
Get the kids up and ready at 7am. If they wake before 7am give them a cup/bottle of milk in their beds until 7.
Kids up, changed, teeth brushed can't take more than 30 minutes.

Here is our routine if it helps:

6.15 my alarm goes off
6.35 out of bathroom: shower, hair washed, teeth etc all done
6.45 dressed and hair dry
6.47 makeup on
6.50 wake eldest DC (5) and dress her under the duvet in bed. Youngest already awake
6.52-7.05 breakfast for kids (cereal, usually a larger one like blueberry wheats and small bits are slower and messier. Hair done at table whilst they eat. I make my tea.
7.05-7.14 dress youngest (3) in kitchen. Teeth brushed in kitchen. Shoes on.
7.15-7.17 defrost car and gone.

Absolutely everything is ready the night before: uniform out, coats are kept in the car, cereal bowls with spoons in, cereal is on the table, tea bag is in my cup, books in book bag, separate toothbrushes and paste in the kitchen.

They also know that if they mess about we are still leaving at 7.17, so if that means nursery in PJs or unbrushed hair, or no trainers for PE, that is what happens. They've soon learnt that i really mean it.

@pinkcardi why do you dress your daughter under the duvet?

Several reasons I guess:

• It's warmer in there (cold house)
• she's still half asleep and it seems kinder than making her stand up etc
• she's still half asleep and so no faffing which means it's quicker.

She can obviously dress herself and does on weekends etc, or if we are having a slower start on a weekday morning. And she sometimes asks to stay in PJs until after breakfast so I will dress her downstairs with youngest.

Some mornings I have to leave the house at 7.15 with 2 dc, I flat out refuse to wake up before 6 even on hair wash days, 6.30 on shower only days. I will get straight in the shower, wrap in towel/dressing gown, go down and put kettle on(takes ages to boil), dry myself in downstairs loo and get dressed into clothes already there and do 5 mins make up. I rarely dry my hair. Make coffee and sort breakfast shake and anything else I didn't do the night before like take laptop off charge and put in my bag.
Go up and wake kids just before 7, eldest gets himself dressed and brushes teeth. I often dress the 4yo half asleep as it's quicker and easier at 7am. Clothes are already set out the night before.
Wash faces, do their hair, shoes, coats and bags and into the car. Getting into the car is by far the most stressful part.
If I were you I would do nappy change and get baby dressed if awake all in one go, give baby milk (already prepped) then shower (I wouldn't wash hair every day get some dry shampoo to start with but your hair will adjust). Get yourself ready. Then sort 3yo, don't offer breakfast, shoes on and go. No distractions like checking social media or anything til you're done.
Really shouldn't take more than an hour and a half even with the hair wash.